Two gentlemen posing for a photo together. Their faces do not bear resemblance to one another that I can tell. They look as though they are dressed to go to a soiree or the theater, don’t they? Mr. Top Hat has the chin-only beard with no mustache again – what was that all about? – and his friend to the right looks too young to grow a beard. They look like they could cut through a crowd of giddy young ladies like a hot knife through butter, don’t they? Either that or they look like outlaws. :-) The photographer for this pair was R. M. Gano at 66 1/2 Federal Street, Allegheny City, PA. This was a tricky search as there was a Civil War CSA General named RM Gano who was very famous apparently. However, I did find some information on Richard M Gano as a daguerreian in Ohio, 1853-1889. He was also known as a photographer of Civil War soldiers and occupied not only #66 1/2 but also 81 Federal Street. I’m inclined to date this photo a little bit later than the mid 1860s. It still has the square corners but the border is absent.
Who Were They? 
They must be dressed in their Sunday go to meetin’ best. That Top Hat is something else! I bet just a few young gals looked their way:)
LikeLike
THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS MY MOTHER’S REALATIVE ! ! THE GANOS ARE A FAMOUS PEOPLE—REV. JOHN GANO BABTIZED GEORGE WASHINGTON (CHIEF OF CHAPLiANS !!)
LikeLike